Walt Lembi

Walt Lembi Son of Frank and Olga Lembi, one of the largest real estate apartment building owners in the city, died on Tuesday in San Francisco after a year-long battle with esophogial cancer. He was 63. Walt grew up a San Francisco native, attended college at Santa Clara University where he pursued his baseball career as a pitcher and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business . His entrepreneurial spirit began with his business career alongside his father, Frank Lembi, at Skyline Realty in 1969. In 1971 Walter married and began a family which would produce his proudest achievement, his four children; Damon, Sammy, Chelsea and Taylor. Walter was gifted with a restless creative spirit and founded many thriving businesses with his father, his sister and his children including Continental Savings of America, Home Owners Finance, Personality Hotels, SF's first boutique hotel company, CitiApartments, and Learn iT! which is the largest computer training company in Northern California. Walt was a "larger then life" figure, loved by many in the San Francisco Bay Area and a huge local sports fan. Many of the city's legendary sports figures including Joe Montana, Dwight Clark and Joe DiMaggio were corporate sponsors for the Lembi Group in the 80s. Walter contributed his time and resources to any number of charitable events mostly without asking for any public exposure in return. Most notably he created "Kids Opening Day" in the 80s for the San Fancisco Giants and would purchase 20,000 tickets for under privileged children in the Bay Area to treat them to the first home Saturday game of the season. Bay Area based schools were also the recipient of Mr. Lembi's generosity, as he sponsored many sporting events and fundraisers, never asking for public recognition, wanting only the best for the kids as they pursued their dreams. The Lembi Group Rental Apartment company donated 72 free apartments in their buildings to less fortunate people in San Francisco while employing thousands of local workers, and spent millions on renovating apartment buildings all over the city to preserve San Francisco's historical architecture. In his last year, Walter battled esophageal cancer in a race to make it to what he considered his crowning achievement, the birth of his very first grand child. And just as with everything else his warrior spirit pulled him through and allowed him to see his grandchild. Walter passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends staring out the window at the beautiful San Francisco skyline, his city. Walter is survived by his four children, his three sisters, his father, Frank Lembi, and countless friends. Private services to be held. Family will provide invitations. In lieu of flowers Walter would appreciate a donation to: UCSF Foundation-Memo: Walter Lembi Cancer Research Fund. Send donations to: Regan Botsford, 220 Montgomery Street 5th Floor, San Francisco, Ca 94104. If you have any questions regarding donations please contact Regan Botsford 415.502.1573.